As much as I've complained, bitched, moaned, and complained (yes, I said "complained" twice... that's how much I did it) about Studio 60, I never stopped watching the show.
The reasons why I did so changed over time. For a while, I thought I was "rubbernecking;" I just couldn't resist seeing what train wreck Aaron Sorkin wrote for himself each week, and then couldn't wait to get on to TV Squad and other sites to see the critics and the commenters ravage the episode. Then, for a while, I thought I was watching the show out of the hope that such a talented group of writers and actors could get their act together long enough to run off a streak of quality episodes. Finally, I thought I was watching merely for the fact that there was nothing else to watch on Mondays at 10, and I figured I could just watch it while I wrote my review for How I Met Your Mother.
Turns out it was all three reasons. And, now that The Black Donnellys is taking S60's place starting next week, I'm going to miss the show a little bit.
A couple of weeks ago, we did an analysis of which shows' episode reviews get the most amount of page views at TV Squad. At the top of the list were three shows you'd expect to see: Idol, Lost, and 24. They were followed by The Office, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, and Grey's Anatomy. But at the top of the next tier, above shows that get much better Nielsen ratings, was Studio 60. Given the number of comments any S60 post gets, that result wasn't that big of a surprise. But what it did show was that, despite the crappy ratings, the show still drew a lot of attention and discussion, from people who both loved it and hated it.
I guarantee you that The Black Donnellys isn't going to generate that kind of discussion. It's not going to be a show that's "polarizing," as NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly called S60 at his TCA press tour session last month (in response to my question, by the way...). Heck, I don't even think that I'm going to watch the show, despite the fact that the pilot that was sent to critics over the summer was pretty good. It just isn't the type of show that will hold my interest every week.
But, despite its many flaws -- and Bob very eloquently went over them the other day, even if he did so in a snide, defensive manner -- S60 was still compelling TV, mainly because Aaron Sorkin was the one writing the episodes. Sorkin himself is compelling, from his tendency to write all the episodes solo, to his history of substance abuse, to the fact that the characters on the show were thinly-veiled versions of himself and people who have passed through his life, to his weirdly jaundiced and outdated view of the part of the United States that is east of California and west of New York City.
People who were unabashed fans of his (coughBobcough) defended the show until the last, but even they had to scratch their heads at times about some of the directions the show went in, plot-wise (I mean -- people from Columbus, OH have never heard of Abbott and Costello? Seriously?). Meanwhile, people who were lesser Sorkin fans had a field day, ripping any misstep while secretly hoping the show could reach the heights of Sorkin's movies (A Few Good Men, The American President) and his peak West Wing years. Not even Lost at its most mysterious could generate debate like one anti-Christian rant by Matt Albie or a bad sketch like "Science Schmience" could, and I'm going to miss that buzz. A lot.
Let's hope that NBC plays out the remaining Studio 60 episodes, even if they don't review the show. And have them give Sorkin another shot at bringing his viewpoint to the airwaves. I've come to learn that it's always welcome, even by the people who hate him. Maybe he just needs to change his viewpoint a little bit... a John Goodman-led show about Pahrump, NV, perhaps?
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-20-2007 @ 1:56PM
David said...
I watch it hoping every week that they will get rid of the Harriet charter and the fact Mathrew Perry rocks!
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 1:54PM
Bob Sassone said...
Gee, thanks for mentioning me not just once but twice in your post. And you say I'm both eloquent AND snide and defensive? Thanks Joel, I owe you one.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 1:59PM
Dave t. said...
Or you can be of the other camp who is glad to see it go, if/when it goes
Dave
http://www.firejeffzucker.com
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 2:50PM
sharron said...
I'm sure they'll still burn off the other episodes, this was an expensive show...and that is the reason it didn't survive. Yeah, there was some wasted potential and piss poor marketing choices, but if it hadn't cost so much it would still be around.
I wouldn't have believed it, but this past episode was just yet another example of it being true - the show is too smart. Even people who like it don't get it, it's happened every week. The comments on this site for 4am miracle, have 10% of posters at this point not realizing Matt was going to DEFEND Ricky and Ron! So, NBC is probably right America wants Nothing But Crap.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 2:52PM
Benjy said...
I've never had a problem with the show and enjoy it thoroughly week after week. I never "scratched my head" once. After all, it's just television!
Over on the S60 review every week, 95% of the feedback is about how much the show sucks. 98% of the feedback is about how much Sarah Paulson is the main reason the show sucks.
People seem to think that if a show is not doing well in the ratings that it must automatically be broken. They try to look for numerous things to fix. IMO, I believe that S60 doesn't need to be fixed. It's not broken. The dialogue (typical Sorkin) is fresh and sharp. The character dynamics are great. I even get the chemistry between Matt and Harriet.
If anything, it is a reflection of America's TV tastes. The campy shlock train wreck that is CSI:Miami (a show that used to be good but has morphed into a parody of Miami Vice and pales in comparison to its sister shows) consistently wins the time slot.
As for all you Paulson haters, I'm telling you I totally get the Harriet and Matt thing and Paulson is a fine actress (downright radiant at times). Their relationship moments have made many of the episodes for me.
The one good thing about this being possibly the last episode is that people can finally stop hating on this show and find something else to hate.
I'll miss this show. If there is one show that I wish would make the jump to premium cable when it dies on NBC, it's this one.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 3:08PM
TVSeriesFinale.com said...
I think Sorkin is a genius and a great writer. I enjoy the show but there are certainly times when I feel like I'm being lectured.
I think one of the issues with the show is the setting. It's too small. Sorkin writes epic characters and stories. The writing feels wasted and inappropriate in a backstage TV show setting. He wrote about the leader of the most powerful nation in the world on The West Wing. Kinda tough act to follow.
Maybe a whole network or a military group...now that could be compelling.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:01PM
Porchland said...
Post No. 6 gives "Studio 60" a free pass (or excuse) it doesn't deserve. The show didn't fail because it wasn't epic enough or lacked the gravitas of "West Wing." Plenty of shows succeed without being epic or IMPORTANT.
The show failed because (feel free to add your own reasons)....
* Sarah Paulsen is not believable as a star,
* the religion stuff WAAAAY overstayed its welcome,
* the "funny" stuff wasn't funny, and
* nobody cared whether Matthew Perry and Sarah Paulsen's characters were together, why the were not together, or whether they would get together.
The show would have had a much better chance of developing from the beginning if the show stuff that clearly wasn't funny had been played as not funny. OK, our show's not working; let's do better; why isn't it funny; etc.
Instead, the she pretended to be smarter than everyone else, and it just wasn't.
Also, don't assume NBC will burn off the remaining episodes just because they were expensive. This show drew a 4.7 last night. They're going to bring it back for May sweeps after "Black Donnelys" is finished? The only way they bring it back at all is if "Donnelys" bombs and maybe not even then.
I really wanted to like this show, but I'm glad it's (probably) over.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:02PM
David said...
Sorkin also wrote about Sports Night and it didn't suck as much as Studio 60.
And I really don't get all the "It's too smart for America". I understand the show, helll I liked yesterday's episode except for Harriet. So Yes I do blame the show's failure on Harriet, and rightfully so.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:08PM
Cam said...
Quote: I think one of the issues with the show is the setting. It's too small. Sorkin writes epic characters and stories. The writing feels wasted and inappropriate in a backstage TV show setting
Epic? Really? Ever heard of a little series Sorkin wrote called 'Sports Night'?
Of course, it met the same fate.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:08PM
firejeffzucker said...
Actually Studio 60 got only a 4.1 last night.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:16PM
Cam said...
Porchland - I couldn't agree with you more! Thank you for saving me from having to write a long comment myself.
The funniest moment of the entire show was last night with the baby and the guilliotine. Too many people were expecting comedy and got dramedy, and they never came back.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:15PM
wil said...
If anything, this shows why casting and chemistry so so vital to the success of any ensemble show.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:28PM
ron said...
i cant wait til they cancel this crap. this was the single mst disapointment of the season.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 4:56PM
Curt said...
And yet ron you find it necessary to waste time telling us this. I bet you're one of those tools that watch something just to hate, and if so, you're opinion is not valid.
Porchland, don't assume your opinions on me. I thought the Matt/Harriet relationship was good, though Sorkin did beat us over the head with it.
I don't understand the way people seemed to hate Sarah Paulson. She's actually pretty damn good. Not the best character on the show, but definitely up there.
F/X needs to pick this up. It fits nicely, and I believe the ratings are about par to their other shows, if I'm not mistaken, though I'm sure someone will tell me if I am.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 8:29PM
David Dawson said...
I don't know a lot about Sorkin. What I do know is that S60 became one of my current favorite shows to watch. Other than ER, I don't watch a lot of NBC shows like I use to.
I thought the show was compelling and funny at times. Matthew Perry's part fit him well and he played the part well.
I was happy to see D.L. Hughley in another good role. Loved the episode where they find the young Black writer. Those are real conversations in my opinion.
I get disappointed when good shows like this gets the boot.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 6:17PM
LI said...
I totally got this show and loved it. Why? Because it made you watch what was happening. It was interesting. You actually cared about the characters. You couldn't just listen. And it was smart. I don't get the negative feedback about Harriet. Perhaps dumbing down our choice of shows and catering to the lowest on the IQ scale generates more viewers, but that in itself is a sad commentary on our country if that is true.
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 6:19PM
Cam said...
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Save-NBC-Studio-60
Reply
2-21-2007 @ 6:44PM
pat said...
please don't take studio 60 off.....there's really no good shows to watch, that makes feel good watching it.....
Reply
2-21-2007 @ 6:43PM
pat said...
please don't take studio 60 off.....there's really no good shows to watch, that makes feel good watching it.....
Reply
2-20-2007 @ 8:32PM
TomB said...
I REALLY wanted to like this show. I think Sorkin is great. I didn't watch Sports Night but I think the first few years of WW were awesome. Who didn't wish our real president was like Sorkin's. I cared about every character on the show - from the secretarial staff to the president.
Then I watched S60. I watched every episode. I tried so hard to like it - but I just don't care about any of the characters. Now it's going off the air and I couldn't care less if they air the rest of the episodes or not. I'm not going to try to analyze why I think it's bad. It just is.
Reply